Before we get into the main news I would like to firstly congratulate Bex Bexter and hubby on the birth of their daughter Elizabeth (Bethie) Anne Baxter. Born on Friday 26th at 9:42pm, Bethie weighed in at a chunky (Bex's words) 8lb 12oz. On behalf of the runners I would like to send our very best wishes to Bex and family and welcome Bethie to teh Fit Club family. 
Each week we use this blog to highlight the achievement of Fit Club runners. This normally celebrates PB's, people running a distance for the first time or people doing new races. Today, however, I would like to celebrate the achievements of Sushil, Sharron and Laura. 
These wonderful ladies, supported by Charlotte, have been working their bums off over past weeks on by taking the NHS couch to 5km programme. Often up at the crack of dawn to get their runs in, they have worked incredibly hard and all that effort culminated in them completing a 5km run today at Winchester parkrun. Unfortunately due to work Laura was unable to make it but Sushil and Sharron ran superbly to complete the course, supported by a large number of Fit Clubbers.Congratulations guys. I think I speak for the whole of the Fit Club family when I say that we are proud of you and we look forward to seeing you guys go from strength to strength in the next few weeks.
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Couch to 5km
NHS created 9 week programme to encourage people to take up running. It is designed for beginners to gradually build up their running ability so they caneventually run 5km without stopping.
The schedule consists of 3 runs a week, with a day of rest in between with a different schedule for each of the 9 weeks.
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This week's parkrun was a monster turn out from the Fit Club team. With 21 registered runners, plus some extra unregistered ones, and a Lynn and MC volunteering we were the second best represented club there.
It was great to see Adam and Allen duking it out at the front of the pack, with Adam taking the honours in the end (despite having run 25km beforehand). It was also great to see Mark, Sarah's husband, doing his first parkrun and the aforementioned c25k graduates working hard on the way round their first 5km since completing the programme.
There were no PBs this week, but a few of the runners went close. Here are the results for the registered runners:
We had a marathon running hero at the weekend who went largely unsung. This time out it was Mike H who ran the OMM (original mountain marathon) in the Brecon Beacons.
This is a 2 day event, this year set in freezing conditions which included heavy snow showers. Day 1 was 16.6 miles and 4,826ft of elevation which Mike and his friend completed in 6h 55m. If that wasn't enough they they camped out at 450m in the freezing conditions before running 15.1 miles with a mere 2,999ft of elevation the following day, taking another 5 hours 9 minutes.
The website describes it as “The fundamentals of the event are self reliance, route selection, moving quickly over difficult terrain, kit management, endurance, teamwork & sound mountain judgement.”
Congratulations Mike. You’ve done us proud once again.
It was great to welcome Adam back to the group after his move to Poland in July. We also welcomed Ben and Janet for their first Fit Club sessions. Welcome to the family!
Read all about it here: https://wfcrunners.blogspot.
Other notices
The Running Club constitution and Committee Roles and Responsibilities have now been drafted and are available for review. Any feedback, please send to wfcrunners@gmail.com!
Club Constitution: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HbPzBfiWkwyu26h25Ymlbn6wFFtHwR1y
Roles and Responsibilities: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1d1IxRQnN3kHn8DLVUbLbFAgJk8RW-2DS
The running club on the 1st November will be a Halloween fancy dress social run with all proceeds going to Anne's London Marathon charity, Leonard Cheshire (https://www.leonardcheshire.org). Following the run we will be heading to Number 5 Bridge Street where Anne will also be selling cakes for your consumption (possibly accompanied by a drink). In addition we will be holding the formal Running Club AGM where we will vote on going affiliated!
The Naomi House Santa Fun Run is being held 2nd December this year. Last year we had a huge turn out from Fit Club and it looks like it'll be the same this year so get booked on early! https://www.naomihouse.org.uk/events/448-santa-fun-run
The Southampton Marathon and Half 2019 has changed it's date to the 5th May due to planned roadworks on the original date. Note; this now no longer clashes with the London Marathon!
There are a number of 2019 races now open for entry:
Stubbington 10km is now FULL!!
Romsey 5: It is being held on the 27th January 2019 and you can enter here: http://offbeat-events.com/event/romsey-5-mile-run/
Winchester 10km: It is being held on the 24th February 2019 and you can enter here: http://offbeat-events.com/event/winchester-10km-road-race/
Eastleigh 10km: It is being held on the 24th March 2019 and you can enter here: https://www.fullonsport.com/event/hendy-eastleigh-10k-2019/profile
Other Fit Club Dates
October 31st - Hump Day HIIT Halloween Special, 7pm
November 4th - Fit Club Coffee Morning
December 2nd - Christmas Jumper Social - Slug and Lettuce, 2pm
December 7th - Fit Club Christmas Party - The Willow Tree 6:30pm
Race Write-ups
Great South Run - by Alice Smith
The Great South Run has always been on my to-do list, having worked at the event for the last 5 years. A recent change in jobs meant I finally had the opportunity, and my husband, Chris, and I decided to run together. However balancing a new job with raising my 18 month old daughter had made training tricky and I wasn’t feeling confident on Sunday morning.The course is a 10 mile flat route around Portsmouth. It’s the perfect step up from a 10k if you’re not feeling ready for a half, and having not run long distance for a few years, I was keen to see if I still had it in me.
We took the train from Winchester, knowing GSR traffic is legendarily bad. After arriving a little later than we had planned, and missing the team photo, it was a 2 mile swift walk to the start line, where we left our bags and lined up with the other white wave runners.
The atmosphere was buzzing, and Chris and I were on a bit of a high, following the mass warm up and high fives from the passing spectators.
The first two miles takes you along the sea front with lots of crowds cheering you on. You then reach Portsmouth’s historic dockyard, passing HMS Victory, followed by the Mary Rose, all the while being serenaded by a royal marines jazz band.
Miles 4-6 are on the main roads through town, where you turn back on yourself, giving you a view of the runners in front and then the runners behind. This is where the main charity cheer points are, and it was great to see so many volunteers turn out for a variety of worthy causes, and all to cheer you on.At mile 6, I started to flag, and was in danger of losing Chris, so took a gel and thankfully saw some friends, which got me going again.
Miles 7-9 had to be the hardest. Having left the seafront, you head through a residential area, which had a real street party feel to it (any excuse for midday drinking on a Sunday!). Lots of loud music, cheering and a brilliant ska band.
Miles 8-10 are along the seafront. It’s a long stretch, but the views kept us going and the weather was beautiful. I couldn’t even imagine how people do it in the usual high winds and rain that the GSR is known for.
We crossed the line in 1 hour 46. Not as quick as I hoped, but the furthest I’ve run since having my daughter, so a proud day none the less.
I would highly recommend this run for anyone wanting that mass participation feel but aren’t quite ready for a half yet. I’d do it again, but without the excuses, and really putting the training in. An expensive event but well worth it!
Great South Run - by Jo Hindle
Despite having completed 155 parkruns and a number of club cross country runs I have only ever entered 5 ‘paid for’ races, one of these being the Great South 2013 and none since March 14. I was content to be a social runner and enjoyed various run groups but each time I ran in a race I found that all of my planning disappeared and I never ran as well as I could or should have. I enjoyed the training, the camaraderie and the event, but was always left with a slight sense of frustration about my performance, so I stopped entering events.
I have absolutely no idea therefore why, suddenly last December I had a change of mind (maybe it was FC and all of the enthusiasm about races) but I found myself persuading a non FC friend to enter the GS and we started lengthening our runs in preparation. Fast forward and despite a few gaps in training because of sprains, house moves and over indulgent holidays (can you hear me getting excuses in early?!) I was pretty well prepared for the day.
As with any mass participation event, race day logistics are always a bit of a concern. We left Winchester at 8am and had an easy drive to the outskirts of Portsmouth. After that we were in slow moving, but never stationary traffic to the seafront. We hopped out and our non running driver (actually a very fast runner but non-participating) went off to find parking. We chose not to park on Southsea Common partly because it was £10 and also because we wanted to avoid getting stuck in traffic when leaving.
The sun was shining, music was blaring from the loudspeakers, the TV helicopter was buzzing overhead and the excited chatter all around made for a fantastic atmosphere. We cheerily posed for the Portsmouth News photographer and then made our way to the bag drop at the Pyramids to see if we could find any other Fit Clubbers. The bag drop area is accessible to any runner (showing race number) and is therefore not fully secure so we’d left phones with our driver meaning that I couldn’t check WhatsApp to find out who else had arrived. We met with Glenna & Mikaela, exchanged good luck wishes and then headed for the vast bank of portaloos, which at this time still only had short queues! We then made our way to the white wave waiting area just after 10am. We didn’t need to be in this early as we weren’t due to start until 10.52 but it was the easiest meet point for our driver to come and find us. It was fairly empty so we found a sunny spot and unusually for the GS the great weather conditions meant that we didn’t need to worry about extra layers whilst we waited.
We listened to the elites being introduced and then the orange wave being warmed up and sent off and then we were slowly walked forward into the area that they had vacated. At this point I was feeling good and ready to run. After our own enthusiastic warm up we too were set on our way.
Before the run I had decided that I should aim for 10 minute miles (1h 40) which I knew would require effort but would be achievable. I knew that if I had a good run then I could possibly get closer to the 1h 35 mark (9m30s miles).
I set off ahead of the 1.40 pacer and soon found myself alongside the 1.35 pacer. Did I remind myself of everything that had gone wrong in previous races? Of course I didn’t! I ploughed on ahead of him! My first mile was 9m 7s - not very sensible!
I felt good, the crowds were enthusiastic and the bands were loud. The run goes past the pier, through Old Portsmouth, the dockyards and past Victory so there are lots of interesting things to look at as you eat up the miles.
I really enjoyed the first half of the run and the fast flat course meant that my average pace for my first 5 miles was 9m24s - still a bit too fast for me at present. Unfortunately this is when things started to go wrong. I had no problems with aches or pains, just a general draining of energy presumably because I’d gone off too fast. I found myself walking a few paces in the 6th mile and I knew from experience that once this happened I’d end up walking again. I took an energy sweet to see if I could make a difference and I think that it probably helped, but it took a while to kick in. Amazingly I was still enjoying the race (it would be hard not to) I just had no ‘oomph’. Each time I slowed to a walk, someone in the crowd would call me by name to encourage me to get going again - and you can’t help but smile when that happens. Mile 8 was my slowest at 11m27s but I managed to pull things back a bit for the last 2 miles as it’s a delight and relief to get to the seafront for the final stretch, especially as there was no sea wind to contend with.
It’s always a fantastic feeling to cross a finish line, whether it’s a race or even parkrun. I had watched the 1h40 pacers pull away ahead of me so I knew that I’d not made my target but actually I felt great. I’d felt resigned to the situation rather than frustrated during the second half and photos of me on the last stretch confirm that I was working hard but not dejected. My chip time was 1.41.04.
I met up with my training partner who had finished a few minutes ahead of me and was waiting just past the goody bag area (we had agreed beforehand to run our own race and not hold back for each other, so we parted at about 4.5 miles). I bumped into Simon H at bag drop, grabbed a quick photo and then went to the meet area. Our supporter/driver had managed to get to miles 1, 4, 7, 9 and the finish - I said before that he was a fast runner! He wished he’d recorded it for Strava!
We milled around in the sunshine for a while, congratulating each other, soaking up the fabulous atmosphere and then headed back to the car.
Reflecting on the run afterwards, I’d be lying if I didn’t wish I’d done things a bit differently, but I don’t feel the same frustration as I did before. I’ve been running for 8 years and I’ve had the occasional minor injury, which has stopped me for a while, so I am really pleased to still be able to get out and run at all, let alone 10 miles. I always tell new parkrunners that the more you do the less significant each run becomes, so you don’t worry about times as much. I suppose the same applies to races. Maybe I need to take a closer look at the race calendar for 2019!
This week saw Elsie and I head to the 3rd running of Marlborough common parkrun in Wiltshire. Set on Marlborough Common to the north of the town, it is a two lap course all on grass. Due to car parks and football pitches the route is fairly complicated to explain. You start in the bottom corner of the field and head up and along a short out and back section before heading back down to the start. From here you head along the bottom of the Common before turning and heading diagonally up to the top corner, near the golf course. From here you turn and head downhill to the far corner, before turning and running back along the bottom to the start. This is repeated twice to make up the 5km.
As mentioned the route is entirely on grass and for the most part this is fairly level, however after turning at the top corner of the route there is a bumpy uneven section that needs some care. Whilst not hilly, the route does go from the bottom of the common to the top, so cannot be classed as flat.
I had volunteered to tail walk and we walked round with a couple of ladies who had seen that parkrun was starting and wanted to use it as an excuse to exercise and walk their dogs at the same time. We had a lovely chat on the way round and they loved their first experience of parkrun, even talking about starting Couch to 5km. Also in attendance was Paul Sinton-Hewitt (parkrun founder), who, as ever, ran around and then went back out onto the course to hi-five everyone and offer encouragement.
We all headed over to the golf club on the far side of the common for post-run breakfast and drinks. Parking is limited onsite and there are no toilet facilities close to the start, so factor this in if you are going to visit.
It’s a parkrun I will go back to one day, hopefully next time to run.
General Announcements
WFC parkrun Club
Winchester Fit Club Runners is set-up as a club with parkrun. If you go into your profile (there is a link to it on the parkrun results email and newsletter email) you can select your club. Change yours to Winchester Fit Club Runners and you will appear in the consolidated club report that we get each week.
WFC Runners WhatsApp Group
There is a WFC Runners WhatsApp chat group where we generally just wang on about running, races and cake. If you are not already part of this then please get in contact with Coach James or Coach Mike who will add you.
WFC Runners Strava Club
If you are a Strava user there is a Winchester Fit Club Runners club page. This can be accessed here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/WFC-Runners. Request to join and we will approve!
Booking onto sessions
Booking onto our training sessions enables the coaches to plan the session accordingly. You can book on in the following location: https://winchesterfitclub.simplybook.it/v2/
Race Calendar
Here is an updated race calendar. If you have any others that you wish to add, please let me know!
Hayling 10 - 4th November 2018
http://www.havantac.co.uk/hayling-10/
Meon Valley Marathon - 4th November 2018
https://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/races
Remembrance Day 5km and 10km (Portchester) – 10th November
Meon Valley Marathon - 4th November 2018
https://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/races
Remembrance Day 5km and 10km (Portchester) – 10th November
Resolution Run (6 hour challenge, 4.4 miles laps) – 6th Jan 2019
Stubbington 10km - 13th January 2019
Romsey 5 - 27th January 2019:
http://offbeat-events.com/event/romsey-5-mile-run/
Farnborough Winter Half and 5km – 27th January 2019
Farnborough Winter Half and 5km – 27th January 2019
Ryde 10 - 3rd February 2019
http://www.rydeharriers.co.uk/the-ryde-10-mile-road-race/
Longleat 10km - 3rd February 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/longleat-10k
Bramley 20 and 10 milers – 17th February 2019
http://www.rydeharriers.co.uk/the-ryde-10-mile-road-race/
Portsmouth Coastal Half - 3rd February 2019
Longleat 10km - 3rd February 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/longleat-10k
Hampton Palace Half – 17th February 2019
Winchester 10km - 24th Feb 2019
Wokingham Half - 24th Feb 2019
https://www.letsdothis.com/e/wokingham-half-marathon-17697#source=header_search
Batty Bimble (6 hour challenge, 3.1 miles laps) – 3rd March 2019
Batty Bimble (6 hour challenge, 3.1 miles laps) – 3rd March 2019
Eastleigh 10K - 17th March 2019
Hampton Court Palace Half - 17th March 2019
London Landmarks Half - Ballot - 24th March 2019
https://www.llhm.co.uk
https://www.llhm.co.uk
Wickham 20 – 31st March 2019
Manchester Marathon - 7th April 2019
Brighton Marathon - 14th April 2019
Salisbury 10 - 14th April 2019
https://www.evententry.co.uk/the-rod-smith-salisbury-10-mile-road-race
Goodwood Marathon, Half, 10km and 5km - 14th April 2019https://www.evententry.co.uk/the-rod-smith-salisbury-10-mile-road-race
https://www.runninggrandprix.com/event/goodwood-half-marathon/
London Marathon - 28th April 2019
May the Forth (6 hour challenge, 3.3 miles laps) – 4th May
Revenge of the Fifth (6 hour challenge, 3.3 miles laps) – 5th May
Alton 10 - 12th May 2019
Netley 10K - 19th May 2019
Hook 10K - 19th May 2019
Alresford 10K - 16th June 2019
Liverpool Rock and Roll - 25th May 2019
Endure 24 - 14th-16th June 2019
Salisbury 5,4,3,2,1 (50km, Marathon, Half) - 11th August 2019
http://salisbury54321.com/index.html
Gravel Hill 5 - 17th August 2019
https://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/races
Midnight Marathon - 17th August 2019
https://secondwindrunning.co.uk/p/races
Maidenhead Half Marathon - 1st September 2019
https://www.theraceorganiser.com/race-course-map/maidenhead-half-marathon-half-marathon-01-09-2019-08-30
New Forest Marathon, Half, 10km, 5km - 8th September 2019
https://www.newforestmarathon.co.uk/the-race/race-entry/
Great North Run - 8th September 2019
https://www.greatrun.org/great-north-run
Swindon Half Marathon - 8th September 2019
https://www.newswindonhalf.co.uk
Bristol Half - 15th September 2019
https://www.greatrun.org/great-bristol-half-marathon
Winchester Half - 22nd September 2019
Berlin Marathon - 29th Sept 2019
Blenheim Half - 29th Sept 2019
https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/events/runs/blenheim-palace-half-marathon-10k-and-family-fun-run/individual-registrationSalisbury Half Marathon - 29th September 2019
https://www.salisburyhalf.com
Clarendon Marathon - 6th October 2019
https://www.clarendon-marathon.co.uk
Great South Run - 20th October 2019
https://www.greatrun.org/great-south-run
Dublin Marathon - 27th Oct 2019
http://sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie
http://sseairtricitydublinmarathon.ie
Abingdon Marathon - Oct 2019 (entries not yet
open)
https://abingdonmarathon.org.uk
https://abingdonmarathon.org.uk
Royal Parks Half - Ballot - Oct 2019
https://royalparkshalf.com
https://royalparkshalf.com
As ever, if you have any submissions for the next blog then please send them through to WFCrunners@gmail.com
Happy Running!
Coach James
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Kit pictures and prices
Kit pictures and prices
